Orobanche ramosa buds

The buds on an Orobanche ramosa flowering stem bulge in their centres, all calyx in two-toned, dull colouring. Each flower is subtended by a bract of 6 mm to 10 mm long with two additional bracteoles. These bracteoles are attached to the base of the calyx and of similar length.

When the corollas emerge, they arch away from the stem and each other, disclosing their blue corolla tips. Once they open, the white in the throat becomes visible.

Lower down in the inflorescence, the stalked flowers are older and freer, their stalks dull dark purple and hairy, as are many other parts of the inflorescence overall. Such a stem, a main stem, may be from 10 cm to 60 cm tall (Wikipedia; www.cabi.org; www.texasinvasives.org).